Mexico: pressure mounts for legalization

A group of leading Mexican intellectuals, celebrities and political figures issued an open letter, published as a paid ad in national newspapers Sept. 25, calling for decriminalize cannabis as a means to reduce drug war violence. "Mexico has paid a high cost for applying the punitive policy of prohibition," the letter read. "We know well that neither decriminalization nor any other individual measure represents a panacea to end the violence, corruption and lawlessness in Mexico. But effective decriminalization of marijuana consumption by raising the dose permitted for personal use is a step in the right direction." (Mexico passed a limited decriminalization measure in 2009.) The letter also favorably noted Uruguay's recent move to legalize possession and cultivation of cannabis under state regulation.

Mexico City's council—officially the Federal District Legislative Assembly—is currently considering a bill that would legalize personal cultivation of cannabis and allow private smoking "clubs" run on a non-profit basis. The measure has wide support in the city's ruling center-left Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), but is opposed by President Enrique Peña Nieto. (AFP, Sept. 28; Sin Embargo, June 16)